Ancient Origins

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is one of the oldest Chinese classics, dating back over 3,000 years. It originated during the Western Zhou Dynasty and has been used by scholars, emperors, and seekers throughout history as a tool for wisdom and divination.

The 64 Hexagrams

The I Ching is built upon 64 hexagrams, each composed of six lines. These hexagrams represent all possible combinations of Yin and Yang energies, symbolizing the full spectrum of life situations and cosmic patterns.

Yin and Yang

Yang (━━━): Represented by a solid line, Yang embodies active, creative, expansive, and masculine energy. It represents heaven, light, and movement.

Yin (━ ━): Represented by a broken line, Yin embodies receptive, nurturing, contractive, and feminine energy. It represents earth, darkness, and stillness.

The Three-Coin Method

The traditional method uses three coins cast six times to build a hexagram from bottom to top:

• 3 Heads (9): Old Yang – A changing Yang line that will become Yin
• 2 Heads, 1 Tail (8): Young Yin – A stable Yin line
• 2 Tails, 1 Head (7): Young Yang – A stable Yang line
• 3 Tails (6): Old Yin – A changing Yin line that will become Yang

The Yarrow Stalks Method

The yarrow stalks method is the ancient and traditional way of consulting the I Ching, predating coins by centuries. This sacred ritual uses 50 yarrow stalks to generate the most authentic and spiritually potent readings.

The Process:

1. Preparation: Begin with 50 yarrow stalks (traditionally dried and prepared)
2. First Selection: Remove one stalk and set it aside as the “heavenly stalk”
3. Split Into Piles: Divide the remaining 49 stalks into two piles (left and right)
4. Take Small Bundle: Take 1 stalk from the right pile using your left hand
5. Count Left Pile: Count the left pile by 8s (each group of 8 represents an element)
6. Remainder = Upper Line: The remainder (1-8) becomes the upper line of your first trigram
7. Repeat for Lower Line: Repeat the process for the lower trigram
8. Repeat Six Times: Complete this process six times to form the full hexagram

Line Values:

• 6 (remains of 1-8): Old Yin – A changing line (三)
• 7 (remains of 2-8): Young Yang – Stable Yang line (━━━)
• 8 (remains of 3-8): Young Yin – Stable Yin line (━ ━)
• 9 (remains of 4-8): Old Yang – A changing line (━━○)

Why Choose Yarrow Stalks:

• Spiritual Depth: The lengthy process (often taking 20-30 minutes) creates meditative focus
• Traditional Authenticity: Used for over 2,000 years by Chinese sages and emperors
• Sacred Precision: The complex calculation system produces the most accurate readings
• Contemplative Practice: The repetitive ritual allows for deep spiritual connection
• Natural Elements: Yarrow stalks contain natural healing properties, adding spiritual significance

While this digital tool uses the faster three-coin method for convenience, practitioners seeking the deepest spiritual connection to the I Ching often prefer the sacred ritual of yarrow stalks.

Changing Lines

Changing lines (Old Yin or Old Yang) indicate aspects of your situation that are in flux. They provide specific guidance and transform to create a secondary hexagram, showing the future direction or outcome of your situation.

How to Interpret

Reading the I Ching is both an art and a science. Consider:

• The overall theme and symbolism of your primary hexagram
• The specific guidance from any changing lines
• The transformation shown by the secondary hexagram (if present)
• How the wisdom applies to your specific question and situation
• The balance of Yin and Yang energies in your reading

Ethical Use

The I Ching is a tool for reflection and wisdom, not fortune-telling. Approach it with:

• Sincerity: Ask genuine questions with an open heart
• Respect: Honor the ancient wisdom and symbolic language
• Contemplation: Take time to meditate on the readings
• Action: Use insights to inform your decisions and growth
• Balance: Remember that you have free will and choice

Most Frequent Hexagrams